The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-08-18

eyes, Bob. / believe that = answered
the girl. "But shouldn't be happy.
even as your wife, if was scorned by
your people and pointed out as q cum
ming schemer, who had put you in q
position out of which you could not
get yourself, and saw you left alone
by all your relations and friends
because you married girl out of q
bonnet shop
"We'd keep out of their way Gra-
cie," said the young man. 'Go and
live quietly somewhere
"But you can't get out of tho way
OF your brother officers" said the girl.
Never mind about them," said
Bob. But to return to Smith.
What about him? When know that
you meet him, and 90 walks with him,
what am l to infer?'
Oracle hesitated for a moment, and
then, looking him full in the face, said:
Bob, if tell you that you are the
only man love in the world, YOU
should be satisfied. But l implore
you to think over what have said.
;Tom-Imean Mr.. Smiths an old and
dear friend.0f mine, and"
"There!" interposed the young man,
"you've called him by his christian
name. Good heavens, Oracle! what
does it all mean?"
The girl did not answer, and the
Honorable Bob, after few more en-
treaties and expostulations, took
himself off in rage, vowing that he
would have it out with his brother
officer before he was MANY hours old
or.
On his way to barracks he met
Smith, and, to his surprise, the latter
opened fire at once by saving: II say,
Topsham. / wish you'd give me ten
minutes talk in my quarters"
GIVE come on purpose to ask the
same thing OF YOU" replied Bob.
earnestly. "But you had better come
into mine, as there's less chance of be-
ing overheard"
So they turned into Bob's quar- tiers,
and each being supplied with a cigar,
Zone thing, Topsham. before say
a word, i! must ask you to keep your
temper"
"Well, Smith," replied Bob, lit will,
l am afraid under the circumstances,
be hard, but I'll do my level best.
| Now, then, to the point!''
"No. You must PROMISE"
cali right then, promise"
"Tm an older man than you arc and
Pm entitled to give you advice"
Depends upon the subject
| "Well, you're in love with Oracle
Clough, AGENT your?
Eyes, l am. But what of that?
What has it to do with you? Vino
told your"
II found it out by accident-only a
day or two ago. Now, do you think
you are doing your duty both to her
and to yourself by persisting in an at.
.tachment OF which nothing can Gomez"
| II must answer with another ques
tion," replied Bob. as it your bust
ness or any other fellows ia teach me
my duty in q case like this?"
Eyes, it is my duty to prevent un'
happiness and misery If l can, and
that's why I've asked you to give me
ten minutes talk. Oracle Clough is s
milliner girl. You're nobleman's
eldest son."
'"The very words Oracle used to me
by Jove!" said Bob to himself, feeling
an impulse to lose his temper and say
something nasty, but Remembering his
promise in time, and he merely re
marked:
"Well, what of that"
II know your father, Lord Cray
WE'LL" continued Smith.
"rhe devil you do! That's NOR,
than l can say" replied the youns
man.
"And," Smith went on, "he's not tn
sort OF a man to regard such unior
and, OF course, you are aiming a.
nothing but a unlon-with favor"
mo; he'd cut up Internally rougl
about it, and that's why want it KEEP
dark" said Bob Topsham.
"And he'd be quite right" remarked
Smith.
81 don't think so," said the younge
officer.
"But look here, Smith. The fact is
you're gone on the girl yourself, AMI
you think you'll get rid of me as a rlv
al by lecturing me upon what ough
and oughtn't to do. Why don't yo'
say SO at once, without SO much beat
ing about the bush?"
"What makes you think Pm gon
upon her?" asked Smith.
why, I've seen you meet her q
night, and 90 out for g. walk with her
and so have the other fellows" replied
Bob.
Smith started This was evidentl,
news to him: Bob Topsham observed
the effect of his speech, and chucklet
inwardly. Then he said:
"Gracie has told me that she love
me-"
I'm sorry to hear it," replies
Smith.
"Of course you are" said Bob
"Just as sorry as l am to know tina
she meets you and walks out with you
1t would make many n fellow thinl
that she's no better than she ought t,
be, but can't"
mo, no." said Smith. with energy
"Don't think that; she's the best 0
girls"
! There was a pause. Smith brok
it.
care you going to follow my advice
Topsham?'
mo. Certainly not. Hove the girl
She loves me. Ii can't marry her
shall do no good. It's the knowin
and loving her that has kept m
straight"
i So old Smith took his departure.
Ofcourse, it Was very soon all owe
the barracks that the rivals had beef
closeted together, and general interes
in the affair was intensified. Thi
reached a climax when, upon the even
ing after the interview above record
ed, Bob Topsham rushed into tn
mess room, his face flushed, his eye
sparkling with anger, and roarel out
"Where's Smith? Where is he? B,
-, I'll call him out! Any OF yo1
fellows seen him?"
"Old Smith," drawled a languit
junior. "He applied for a week. leav
this afternoon and went off by the
train to town."
HAS he, though? Thedouble.face'
d!'
Every one looked up at this unusu
al ebull1tion of wrath, and there va